Burden

The novel explores the concept of burden and how an individual can be psychologically weighed down by the things and people they feel most attached to. Meddelin’s key dilemma throughout the novel is struggling to assert her own identity while feeling completely tied to her family’s expectations for her actions, words, and life in general.

Meddelin thinks of her family as a burden to her because she constantly feels obligated to act and speak in ways that they will approve of. Although Meddelin feels a lot of genuine love and affection for her Ma and aunties, she also harbors a secret and painful resentment toward them for being too involved in her life. Meddelin’s split feelings for her family confuse her and leave her incapable of being happy with herself. On the one hand, Meddelin is grateful that she can always count on...